Career and Education Opportunities for Computer Scientists in Sacramento, California

Computer scientist career and educational opportunities abound in Sacramento, California. Currently, 5,300 people work as computer scientists in California. This is expected to grow by 25% to about 6,600 people by 2016. This is better than the national trend for computer scientists, which sees this job pool growing by about 24.2% over the next eight years. Computer scientists generally conduct research into fundamental computer and information science as theorists, designers, or inventors.

Computer scientists earn approximately $53 per hour or $111,110 per year on average in California. Nationally they average about $47 per hour or $97,970 yearly. Incomes for computer scientists are better than in the overall category of Computer in California, and better than the overall Computer category nationally. Computer scientists work in a variety of jobs, including: bioinformatics software engineer, information scientist, and software engineer.

There are forty-two schools of higher education in the Sacramento area, including fifteen within twenty-five miles of Sacramento where you can get a degree to start your career as a computer scientist. Computer scientists usually hold a Master's degree, so you can expect to spend about six years studying to be a computer scientist if you already have a high school diploma, or just 2 years if you have a Bachelor's degree.

CAREER DESCRIPTION: Computer Scientist

Computer Scientist video from the State of New Jersey Dept. of Labor and Workforce Development

In general, computer scientists conduct research into fundamental computer and information science as theorists, designers, or inventors. They also solve or develop solutions to problems in the field of computer hardware and software.

Computer scientists assign or schedule tasks so as to meet work priorities and goals. They also analyze problems to design solutions involving computer hardware and software. Equally important, computer scientists have to meet with managers and others to solicit cooperation and resolve problems. Finally, computer scientists evaluate project plans and proposals to gauge feasibility issues.

Every day, computer scientists are expected to be able to think through problems and come up with general rules. They need to articulate ideas and problems. It is also important that they listen to and understand others in meetings.

It is important for computer scientists to apply theoretical expertise and innovation to generate or apply new technology. They are often called upon to design performance standards, and evaluate activities in light of established standards. They also design and interpret organizational goals and procedures. They are sometimes expected to participate in staffing decisions and direct training of subordinates. Somewhat less frequently, computer scientists are also expected to confer with users and technicians to establish computing needs and system requirements.

Computer scientists sometimes are asked to layout computers and the software that runs them. They also have to be able to maintain network hardware and software, direct network security measures, and monitor networks to insure availability to system users and evaluate project plans and proposals to gauge feasibility issues. And finally, they sometimes have to approve and adjust operational budgets.

Like many other jobs, computer scientists must want to innovate to meet new challenges and be persistant in the face of problems and impediments.

Similar jobs with educational opportunities in Sacramento include:

Applications Programmer. Develop, create, and modify general computer applications software or specialized utility programs. Analyze user needs and develop software solutions. Design software or customize software for client use with the aim of optimizing operational efficiency. May analyze and design databases within an application area, working individually or coordinating database development as part of a team.

Computer Programmer. Convert project specifications and statements of problems and procedures to detailed logical flow charts for coding into computer language. Develop and write computer programs to store, locate, and retrieve specific documents, data, and information. May program web sites.

Network Systems and Data Communications Analyst. Analyze, design, and evaluate network systems, such as local area networks (LAN), wide area networks (WAN), Internet, intranet, and other data communications systems. Perform network modeling, analysis, and planning. Research and recommend network and data communications hardware and software. Includes telecommunications specialists who deal with the interfacing of computer and communications equipment. May supervise computer programmers.

Network and Computer Systems Administrator. Install, configure, and support an organization's local area network (LAN), wide area network (WAN), and Internet system or a segment of a network system. Maintain network hardware and software. Monitor network to ensure network availability to all system users and perform necessary maintenance to support network availability. May supervise other network support and client server specialists and plan, coordinate, and implement network security measures.

EDUCATIONAL OPPORTUNITIES: Computer Scientist Training

San Joaquin Delta College - Stockton, CA

San Joaquin Delta College, 5151 Pacific Ave, Stockton, CA 95207. San Joaquin Delta College is a large college located in Stockton, California. It is a public school with primarily 2-year programs and has 20,480 students. San Joaquin Delta College has a less than one year and a two to four year program in Computer and Information Sciences which graduated one and zero students respectively in 2008.

Heald College-Roseville - Roseville, CA

Heald College-Roseville, Seven Sierra Gate Plz, Roseville, CA 95678. Heald College-Roseville is a small college located in Roseville, California. It is a private for-profit school with primarily 2-year programs and has 736 students. Heald College-Roseville has a less than one year and an associate's degree program in Computer and Information Sciences & Support Services, Other Specialties which graduated eleven and twenty-seven students respectively in 2008.

Sacramento City College - Sacramento, CA

Sacramento City College, 3835 Freeport Blvd, Sacramento, CA 95822-1386. Sacramento City College is a large college located in Sacramento, California. It is a public school with primarily 2-year programs and has 26,175 students. Sacramento City College has 2 areas of study related to Computer Scientist. They are:

Computer and Information Sciences, less than one year which graduated 3 students in 2008.

Computer Science, one to two year, associate's degree, and two to four year which graduated one, three, and zero students respectively in 2008.

CET-Sacramento - Sacramento, CA

CET-Sacramento, 6853 65th St, Sacramento, CA 95828. CET-Sacramento is a small school located in Sacramento, California. It is a private not-for-profit school with primarily less-than 2-year programs and has 167 students. CET-Sacramento has a less than one year program in Computer and Information Sciences & Support Services, Other Specialties which graduated four students in 2008.

Cosumnes River College - Sacramento, CA

Cosumnes River College, 8401 Center Parkway, Sacramento, CA 95823-5799. Cosumnes River College is a large college located in Sacramento, California. It is a public school with primarily 2-year programs and has 14,518 students. Cosumnes River College has an associate's degree program in Computer Science which graduated one student in 2008.

MTI Business College Inc - Stockton, CA

MTI Business College Inc, 6006 N. El Dorado Street, Stockton, CA 95207-4349. MTI Business College Inc is a small college located in Stockton, California. It is a private for-profit school with primarily less-than 2-year programs and has 225 students. MTI Business College Inc has a less than one year program in Computer and Information Sciences & Support Services, Other Specialties which graduated five students in 2008.

Sierra College - Rocklin, CA

Sierra College, 5000 Rocklin Road, Rocklin, CA 95677-3397. Sierra College is a large college located in Rocklin, California. It is a public school with primarily 2-year programs and has 21,608 students. Sierra College has less than one year, associate's degree, and two to four year programs in Computer and Information Sciences & Support Services, Other Specialties which graduated four, one, and zero students respectively in 2008.

Heald College-Stockton - Stockton, CA

Heald College-Stockton, 1605 E March Ln, Stockton, CA 95210. Heald College-Stockton is a small college located in Stockton, California. It is a private for-profit school with primarily 2-year programs and has 1,172 students. Heald College-Stockton has less than one year, one to two year, and associate's degree programs in Computer and Information Sciences & Support Services, Other Specialties which graduated four, zero, and five students respectively in 2008.

University of California-Davis - Davis, CA

University of California-Davis, One Shields Avenue, Davis, CA 95616-8678. University of California-Davis is a large university located in Davis, California. It is a public school with primarily 4-year or above programs. It has 30,270 students and an admission rate of 59%. University of California-Davis has bachelor's degree, master's degree, and doctor's degree programs in Computer Science which graduated two, one, and twenty students respectively in 2008.

MTI College - Sacramento, CA

MTI College, 5221 Madison Ave, Sacramento, CA 95841-9817. MTI College is a small college located in Sacramento, California. It is a private for-profit school with primarily 2-year programs. It has 708 students and an admission rate of 67%. MTI College has 2 areas of study related to Computer Scientist. They are:

Computer and Information Sciences, less than one year which graduated 57 students in 2008.

Computer Systems Analysis/Analyst, less than one year and associate's degree which graduated thirty-seven and twelve students respectively in 2008.

American River College - Sacramento, CA

American River College, 4700 College Oak Dr, Sacramento, CA 95841-4286. American River College is a large college located in Sacramento, California. It is a public school with primarily 2-year programs and has 37,601 students. American River College has an associate's degree program in Computer Science.

California State University-Sacramento - Sacramento, CA

California State University-Sacramento, 6000 J St, Sacramento, CA 95819-2694. California State University-Sacramento is a large university located in Sacramento, California. It is a public school with primarily 4-year or above programs. It has 29,022 students and an admission rate of 67%. California State University-Sacramento has a bachelor's degree and a master's degree program in Computer Science which graduated forty and twenty-nine students respectively in 2008.

Folsom Lake College - Folsom, CA

Folsom Lake College, 10 College Parkway, Folsom, CA 95630. Folsom Lake College is a medium sized college located in Folsom, California. It is a public school with primarily 2-year programs and has 9,142 students. Folsom Lake College has 2 areas of study related to Computer Scientist. They are:

Computer and Information Sciences, two to four year.

Computer Science, associate's degree.

Humphreys College-Stockton - Stockton, CA

Humphreys College-Stockton, 6650 Inglewood Ave, Stockton, CA 95207-3896. Humphreys College-Stockton is a small college located in Stockton, California. It is a private not-for-profit school with primarily 4-year or above programs and has 811 students. Humphreys College-Stockton has an associate's degree and a bachelor's degree program in Computer and Information Sciences which graduated zero and two students respectively in 2008.

Heald College-Rancho Cordova - Rancho Cordova, CA

Heald College-Rancho Cordova, 2910 Prospect Pk Dr, Rancho Cordova, CA 95670. Heald College-Rancho Cordova is a small college located in Rancho Cordova, California. It is a private for-profit school with primarily 2-year programs and has 985 students. Heald College-Rancho Cordova has an associate's degree program in Computer and Information Sciences & Support Services, Other Specialties which graduated ten students in 2008.

CERTIFICATIONS

Planning and Scheduling Professional:
The PSP certification is to recognize specialists who meet a demanding set of planning and scheduling criteria by a rigorous examination, experience, education and ethical qualificaion.

Geometric Dimensioning & Tolerancing Professional - Technologist:
ASME GDTP Certification provides the means to recognize proficiency in the understanding and application of the geometric dimensioning and tolerancing (GD&T) principles expressed in the ASME Y14.

LOCATION INFORMATION: Sacramento, California

Sacramento, California photo by Urdangaray

Sacramento is located in Sacramento County, California. It has a population of over 463,794, which has grown by 13.9% in the past ten years. The cost of living index in Sacramento, 93, is below the national average. New single-family homes in Sacramento are valued at $185,300 on average, which is far less than the state average. In 2008, nine hundred thirty-four new homes were constructed in Sacramento, down from 1,337 the previous year.

The top three industries for women in Sacramento are health care, educational services, and public administration. For men, it is construction, public administration, and accommodation and food services. The average travel time to work is about 23 minutes. More than 23.9% of Sacramento residents have a bachelor's degree, which is lower than the state average. The percentage of residents with a graduate degree, 8.4%, is lower than the state average.

The unemployment rate in Sacramento is 14.7%, which is greater than California's average of 12.3%.

The percentage of Sacramento residents that are affiliated with a religious congregation, 36.9%, is less than both the national and state average. Pearly Gate Missionary Baptist Church, Peace Lutheran Church and Parkview Presbyterian Church are among the churches located in Sacramento. The most prominent religious groups are the Catholic Church, the LDS (Mormon) Church and the Assemblies of God.

Sacramento is home to the Southern Pacific Shops and the Bing Maloney Golf Course as well as Alkali Flat North Historic District and Silva Field. Shopping centers in the area include Farmers Center Shopping Center, Florin Square Shopping Center and Franklin and Florin Shopping Center. Visitors to Sacramento can choose from Best Western Sutter House, Best for Less Motel-Cababa Lodge and AAA Residence Inn for temporary stays in the area.